Malacia is a constitutional monarchy with a two-house democratic government. There are 60 seats in the lower house; these are filled on a constituency basis with a first-past-the-post system.The upper house is formed of 10 hereditary peers, and 20 citizens selected by a national single-transferable-vote.The latter may not hold any senior management post, or have any political or union affiliations; this is to ensure that the 'man (or since 1925 woman) on the street' can take part in the decision making process.This unusually advanced form of representation has helped Malacia avoid the racial and partisan tensions that have affected other South American countries.